At the beginning of the modern age, Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, seeking a shorter trade route to the Eastern lands, but discovered North America instead. Although he never understood the significance of his discovery, it changed the world forever. The story of America is inspiring and fascinating, yet few today comprehend its depth, struggles, triumphs, and what made America a land of hope.
Wilfred McClay’s best-selling book tells America’s story, helping readers see the big picture and revealing invaluable, meaningful lessons. I highly recommend the book to parents of middle and high school kids.
McClay is a master historian who believes history contains lessons that aid healthy patriotism, citizenship, and gratitude. He focuses on America’s political history from colonial times to the present. He writes engagingly, avoids current partisan politics, yet is open about his belief that America was and is a land of hope.
Some of the most interesting and helpful parts include chapter 3 “The Revolution of Self-Rule”, chapter 7 “The Age of Democracy” (where he describes the significance of Alexis de Tocqueville’s political and social analysis of America in his famous book Democracy in America), chapter 8 “The Old South and Slavery”, chapter 12 “A Nation Transformed” (about the Civil War’s aftermath), and chapter 14 “The Progressive Era.”
Land of Hope is suitable for teenagers who want to understand the time they find themselves in, what is happening around them, and what role they should play.
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